Juba, Thursday, November 27, 2025 – The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS) officially welcomed two newly appointed Undersecretaries, following presidential decrees issued by H.E. President Salva Kiir Mayardit on Friday November 21, 2025. The new appointees are Hon. Dr. Michael Roberto Kenyi, Undersecretary for Food Security, and Hon. Anthony Majak, Undersecretary for Cooperatives Development, they assume office from their predecessors, Hon. John Ogotho Kanisio and Hon. Mathew Udo, respectively.
The reception ceremony, held at the MAFS Complex, was presided over by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Hussein Abdelbagi Ayi Agany Akol, and attended by senior ministry officials including Director Generals, the Program Director of the Single Project Coordination Unit, Dr. Erneo Blasio, as well as technical advisor Evans Kenyi. Development partners UNOPS, UNDP, and IFAD were also present to witness the transition.
In his address, the Minister urged the two Undersecretaries to prioritize urgent sectoral tasks critical to strengthening food security and advancing economic development through the modernization of rural cooperatives. He reaffirmed his commitment to support them in fulfilling their mandates and improving the working environment for all MAFS staff. He also extended gratitude to the outgoing undersecretaries, thanking Hon. John Kanisio for his dedicated ten years of service as MAFS Undersecretary and assuring him of continued
government confidence, and encouraging Hon. Mathew Udo as he transitions into his new role as MAFS Technical Advisor.
Delivering his inaugural remarks, Hon. Dr. Michael Roberto Kenyi expressed gratitude to the President for the appointment and pledged to champion “institutional reform, policy coherence, and practical interventions that deliver real results to farmers.” He emphasized an open-door leadership approach to ensure unity of purpose within the ministry.
Similarly, Hon. Anthony Majak thanked the Minister for the warm reception and echoed his colleague’s commitment to collaboration, stating that his office will remain open to all staff and stakeholders working toward the ministry’s shared goals.
